Feature Story

AUTOMANIA

by Bob Hagin

April 02, 1999

When the history of the United States in the 20th century is finally
written, it will need a section dedicated to our collective devotion to
the automobile. For lack of a more suitable title, I suggest that this
section be referred to as "American Automania." We Americans are
obviously enamored by anything and everything that is related to
four-wheeled self-propulsion and this includes all its peripherals.

And at least one of the chapters in this section of our auto history
should be titled "Automemorabilia." It would be centered around all the
hobby or nostalgic items that aren't directly involved with our beloved
cars and trucks, but wouldn't exist were it not for our venerated
rolling stock.

This national proclivity towards auto-related items is exemplified
by the many items offered for sale at the multitude of
enthusiast-oriented gatherings that spring up around the country like
toadstools after a rain storm. I attended one recently and was
overwhelmed by the depth of our devotion.

I went with co-in-laws who were ostensibly there to sell their '87
Buick Grand National turbo coupe (it was inevitable that the vehicular
genetic programming of our two families would result in a marriage) but
in truth, they were really there to look at and talk about cars. The
result of their rambling through the multi-thousand car get-together was
that they are now seriously considering purchase of a restored and quite
drivable '38 Buick Special four-door sedan, complete with dual
side-mounts (Educational Note: spare tires mounted in the both front
fenders), mohair upholstery and period road maps in the inside door
pockets. It would necessitate an expansion of their already-packed
garage but that's of secondary importance.

The vintage Buick held a much-coveted indoor display area (most of
the rods and custom cars had to be content with the grass and asphalt
of the county fairgrounds where the event took place) along side other
"chosen" vehicles and commercial displays. These displays vividly point
up our collective love of anything even remotely related to our
automotive past.

Close by the elderly Buick was a booth devoted to reproductions of
posters announcing upcoming drag race meets that happened decades ago.
Standing by them in earnest discussion were several gray-haired and
aging enthusiasts who were dressed in the white tee-shirts, Levis, white
sox and penny-loafers that was the obligatory uniform of their youth.

At the end of the great hall was a large section devoted to
merchandise that chronicled that bygone culinary institution, the
drive-in restaurant. Replicas of the once-common table-side juke box
selection terminals were offered for sale (playing teen-aged melodies of
the '50s and '60s) as were inedible plastic copies of Cokes, hamburgers
and french fries on door-mount trays. Also offered were wall clocks that
contained advertisement for "Mom's Cafe,""Joe's Garage" and other
non-existent businesses, suitable for mounting in the family "rumpus
room," another expression of a bygone era. Even full-sized malt shop
counters and single-post stools were available, but buyers were warned
that they have to supply their own roller skating waitresses.

Fiberglass, non-working replicas of period gas pumps that were
either faithfully reproduced or modified to be free-standing display
cases for other collectible automobilia caught my eye. Among these were
countless geegaws centering around Betty Boop and Marilyn Monroe which
were sometimes combined metamorphically into a single image. One Boop
item that especially appealed to me was a full-sized cardboard portrayal
of Betty Garbed in classic drive-in waitress regalia, complete with
roller skates and accompanied by her little dog Bimbo. One of these
two-dimensional works of art now occupies a place of honor in my office.

My daughter Darcy is now 39 years old and when she was just a
toddler, I took a snapshot of her seated in a generic kiddie's pedal
car. I knew that these toys are currently a hot item for collectors to
unearth and restore, so I was therefore astonished to find a booth that
contained at least a dozen of these same minuscule machines painted up
as Yellow Cabs, police cars, fire chief's car and a couple of other
service vehicles. It took me a moment to realize that they were all
fiberglass replicas (much like the many near-perfect A.C. Cobra roadster
kit cars at the show) that could be purchased completely finished or to
be finished at home. I'm still tempted to buy one to build for my
toddler granddaughters.

Auto insignia wrist watches, auto theme tee-shirts, bracelets and
ear rings that are in the form of auto logos, original and replica auto
magazines and brochures, and several dozen other auto-motif articles
were packed into booths in the two display buildings or tucked away
around the fair grounds. There was something for everybody and besides
the Betty Boop cut-out, I found the Sunbeam Alpine lapel pin I'd been
searching for, for many years. The vendor told me that it wasn't popular
and that the one I bought was her last and had been in her stock for
several years.

After I bought it, I understood why it hadn't gained popularity with
Sunbeam fans. The Asian-produced pin proclaims in capital letters that
the wearer is the proud owner of a "SUMREAM."